Thursday, June 26, 2014
Rise and Shine
Quotes on canvas are one of my favorite things! I made two of these for birthday presents to some close friends. They absolutely loved them! I liked them so much I'll have to make another one for me sometime.
Day 10: Saturday, May 31
Time to go home!
Today, we flew from Prague to Munich to Chicago to Minneapolis and rode a bus to Valley City. I'll be okay if I don't go on any overnight flights or five hour bus rides anytime soon!
I got home at 6:30 in the morning on Sunday and couldn't wait to share all my stories!!
Today, we flew from Prague to Munich to Chicago to Minneapolis and rode a bus to Valley City. I'll be okay if I don't go on any overnight flights or five hour bus rides anytime soon!
I got home at 6:30 in the morning on Sunday and couldn't wait to share all my stories!!
Day 9: Friday, May 30
This morning we had leisure time in Prague. A group of us went to tour the Jewish Quarters. It was an emotional self tour. One of the synagogues we walked through had first and last names of people who had died, their birthdate, and the last date they were seen alive hand written on the walls.
After lunch, we had gave our final concert in St. Nicholas of Old Town. The seats were full, and it was an amazing performance!
For supper, we ate at the Plzenska restaurant in the Municipal House to celebrate our final night. There was traditional music playing, and the courses tasted wonderful!
After lunch, we had gave our final concert in St. Nicholas of Old Town. The seats were full, and it was an amazing performance!
For supper, we ate at the Plzenska restaurant in the Municipal House to celebrate our final night. There was traditional music playing, and the courses tasted wonderful!
After our final concert.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Day 8: Thursday, May 29
We started the day with a five hour drive to Prague. We arrived at Strahov Brewery for lunch, met our tour guide, and walked to Prague Castle...in the rain. We explored the Old Royal Palace, Basilica of St. George, the Golden Lane, and St. Vitas Cathedral.
We walked to the hotel...in the rain. Then walked to get our bags from the bus and bring them to the hotel...in the rain.
But! The worst day turned into the best night!
We went to supper at Folklore Gardens. We were served a four course dinner and entertained by traditional music and dance. We had so much fun singing and dancing, not to mention the fantastic food!
We walked to the hotel...in the rain. Then walked to get our bags from the bus and bring them to the hotel...in the rain.
But! The worst day turned into the best night!
We went to supper at Folklore Gardens. We were served a four course dinner and entertained by traditional music and dance. We had so much fun singing and dancing, not to mention the fantastic food!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Day 7: Wednesday, May 28
Today we went to the Mozarthaus. We had audio guided tours, and I accidentally pressed the children button. So, I'm pretty sure my tour was better than everyone's.
We sang at the St. Stephan's Cathedral. A lot of tourists hovered and watched us.
With the rest of the evening off, we spent the rest of our euros! Then, time for a relaxing evening at the hotel.
I don't have any pictures for this post yet, so here's me and the Sound of Music curtains in our hotel ;)
We sang at the St. Stephan's Cathedral. A lot of tourists hovered and watched us.
With the rest of the evening off, we spent the rest of our euros! Then, time for a relaxing evening at the hotel.
I don't have any pictures for this post yet, so here's me and the Sound of Music curtains in our hotel ;)
St. Stephan's Cathedral
Day 6: Tuesday, May 27
We started the morning with a tour of Vienna and its local highlights including the Opera House, Hofburg Palace and Stephansdom. For lunch we went to a cafe and had the best coffee EVER--> sooo amazing!
We sang at Schonbrunn Palace on the front steps. It was probably my favorite performance. The palace was used as a royal summer home complete with gardens and a zoo. We had an audio guide tour through 22 of the 1,441 rooms. It was a little impersonal but still enjoyable. The gardens were spectacular! Sam and I walked around and got caught in the pouring rain.
Back at the hotel, we went to a shop across the street. A lot of the jewelry was handmade. I bought a watch and necklace for myself, a bracelet for Amy, and a kitty pouch for Chelsea.
For our free time we went to an applied arts museum. It was free on Tuesday nights! We ran out of time and only made it around the basement; there were two more levels!
We sang at Schonbrunn Palace on the front steps. It was probably my favorite performance. The palace was used as a royal summer home complete with gardens and a zoo. We had an audio guide tour through 22 of the 1,441 rooms. It was a little impersonal but still enjoyable. The gardens were spectacular! Sam and I walked around and got caught in the pouring rain.
Back at the hotel, we went to a shop across the street. A lot of the jewelry was handmade. I bought a watch and necklace for myself, a bracelet for Amy, and a kitty pouch for Chelsea.
For our free time we went to an applied arts museum. It was free on Tuesday nights! We ran out of time and only made it around the basement; there were two more levels!
Day 5: Monday, May 26
Breakfast at the hotel was amazing! Then we headed to St. Florian Abbey. But seriously, it was breakfast heaven!
We toured the Abbey. Again, we lucked out with an awesome tour guide. First, we went in the library which was literally breathtaking. Then through some more rooms, to the basement crypt where Anton Bruckner is buried, and finally the Basilica. We were able to sing in the Basilica, know for its accoustics.
Next, we traveled to Spitz for a cruise on the Danube River to Krems. It was calming to sit and relax next to Sam and Courtney and get away from the rest of the group for awhile!
Finally, we traveled to Vienna and checked into out hotel in time for supper. I can officially say I had Weiner schnitzel in Austria!
We toured the Abbey. Again, we lucked out with an awesome tour guide. First, we went in the library which was literally breathtaking. Then through some more rooms, to the basement crypt where Anton Bruckner is buried, and finally the Basilica. We were able to sing in the Basilica, know for its accoustics.
Next, we traveled to Spitz for a cruise on the Danube River to Krems. It was calming to sit and relax next to Sam and Courtney and get away from the rest of the group for awhile!
Finally, we traveled to Vienna and checked into out hotel in time for supper. I can officially say I had Weiner schnitzel in Austria!
St. Florian Abbey
St. Florian library. There are really no words to explain how much better this looks in person!
Books handwritten by the monks.
Our cruise boat: Prince Eugene.
View from the boat.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Day 4: Sunday, May 25
We got up super early today and drove to Mondsee (outside of Salzburg). We sang at mass in St. Michael's Cathedral and performed a short concert afterward. This church was filmed for the wedding in the Sound of Music!
We ate lunch before starting a walking tour of Salzburg. It was hot out, but the tour was awesome. Our tour guide lady was so cute and nice. We went to Mozart's birthplace and the church he was baptized at.
We had a lot of free time. I bought two Rosary bracelets, paid to use the bathroom, and sat on the fountain used in the Sound of Music.
For supper, we went to a Mozart dinner concert in the oldest restaurant in Europe. The Stiftskeller St. Peter is housed in the abbey of the church that supposedly brought Christianity to Austria. We had to pay for the water (which we had a great time complaining about)! We joked around a lot about filling out empty water bottles back up from the bathroom. The music was good. I was a little sleepy because we were in the dark, though. The meal for supper was different as it was prepared as it was when Mozart was living in Salzburg.
I loved Salzburg and all of the interesting facts with the Sound of Music and Mozart. The hotel was super fancy, not that I needed it. I could have fallen asleep on the ground!
We ate lunch before starting a walking tour of Salzburg. It was hot out, but the tour was awesome. Our tour guide lady was so cute and nice. We went to Mozart's birthplace and the church he was baptized at.
We had a lot of free time. I bought two Rosary bracelets, paid to use the bathroom, and sat on the fountain used in the Sound of Music.
For supper, we went to a Mozart dinner concert in the oldest restaurant in Europe. The Stiftskeller St. Peter is housed in the abbey of the church that supposedly brought Christianity to Austria. We had to pay for the water (which we had a great time complaining about)! We joked around a lot about filling out empty water bottles back up from the bathroom. The music was good. I was a little sleepy because we were in the dark, though. The meal for supper was different as it was prepared as it was when Mozart was living in Salzburg.
I loved Salzburg and all of the interesting facts with the Sound of Music and Mozart. The hotel was super fancy, not that I needed it. I could have fallen asleep on the ground!
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Day 3: Saturday, May 24
We ate breakfast at the hotel before heading to Neuschwanstein Castle. One of many castles build by Mad King Ludwig, and it was his final project as he died under mysterious circumstances before it was finished. King Ludwig only lived in the castle for 172 days before he died. We walked around the town below first. I bought a scarf at one of the shops. The walk up the mountain to the castle was long but worth it! We toured almost all of the finished rooms. Everything was original, the furniture, paintings, upholstery, etc.
We had lunch in Fussen at a pizza parlor. Next, we took a cable car to Hofener Alm. From the high plateau, we had a great view over Fussen and the alpine surroundings. The ride in the cable car was scary, but the view was amazing.
Our first concert was this evening at a music school. We were very tired, but it went well! After the concert some of the kids from the school are supper with us at the hotel. The two girls who ate with us only understood about half of what we were saying. They were only 12, but their violin skills were so impressive!
We had lunch in Fussen at a pizza parlor. Next, we took a cable car to Hofener Alm. From the high plateau, we had a great view over Fussen and the alpine surroundings. The ride in the cable car was scary, but the view was amazing.
Our first concert was this evening at a music school. We were very tired, but it went well! After the concert some of the kids from the school are supper with us at the hotel. The two girls who ate with us only understood about half of what we were saying. They were only 12, but their violin skills were so impressive!
Sam and I in front of a beautiful lake in Fussen.
We had free time so why not?! And yes, all the water was that clear!
Neuschwanstein Castle right before we toured it.
The ride up.
View from the top!
Reutte was my favorite :)
Day 2: Friday, May 23
We arrived in Munich, went through customs, and immediately began a two hour walking tour of the city center. The tour guide was nice and casual. He showed us the Ratskeller or city hall. We went in a couple churches and then ate lunch at the Hofbrauhaus. At the restaurant, some families had reserved tables that they sat at everyday. I ordered veal sausage...which was definitely different. One big difference: they all drink sparkling water instead of just tap water.
We drove to Reutte, Austria and finally were able to check into our hotel. The hotel had been owned by the same family for over 400 years! It was old and had a lot of character. Anna and I's room was the size of a closet. Dinner was perfect. First bread and butter, soup, main dish, and dessert.
Reutte sits on the foothills of the Alps, and the view was gorgeous! So many trees and all of the houses are pastel color--nothing looks out of place.
We drove to Reutte, Austria and finally were able to check into our hotel. The hotel had been owned by the same family for over 400 years! It was old and had a lot of character. Anna and I's room was the size of a closet. Dinner was perfect. First bread and butter, soup, main dish, and dessert.
Reutte sits on the foothills of the Alps, and the view was gorgeous! So many trees and all of the houses are pastel color--nothing looks out of place.
Our tour group in front of the Ratskeller. Can you spot me?
The
gold in the street is the back ally where "Dodgers" walked. They wanted to avoid paying homage to the memorial built for the 16 Nazi
men who were killed, and later called martyrs.
Our first hotel.
Anna and I on the balcony of our hotel in Reutte.
Monday, June 2, 2014
VCSU Concert Choir Tour: Europe 2014
This year I was given the opportunity to tour Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic with my college choir. Ten days and five plane rides later, I can honestly say it was worth every penny! Below is our tour group:
I decided to give a recap of my trip over the next ten days!
On Thursday, May 22, we boarded a bus and departed for Minneapolis at 4:30am. After a five hour bus ride, we checked in and flew to Charlotte, NC at noon. And finally, at 7:00pm we boarded the nine hour plane ride to Munich, Germany! I stayed up the night before and slept almost the whole time we were in the air. We were served supper and breakfast on the plane; the wasn't bad!
On Thursday, May 22, we boarded a bus and departed for Minneapolis at 4:30am. After a five hour bus ride, we checked in and flew to Charlotte, NC at noon. And finally, at 7:00pm we boarded the nine hour plane ride to Munich, Germany! I stayed up the night before and slept almost the whole time we were in the air. We were served supper and breakfast on the plane; the wasn't bad!
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